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 SJIF Impact Factor: 4.924 Volume: 3 | Issue: 11 |November 2017

EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) ISSN (Online): 2455-3662

CONCEPT OF NADIS IN TEXTS AND TRADITIONS

ABSTRACT
Nadis refer to the subtle channels of the body which
forms the passage for the flow of the vital forces of prana.
Satyanarayan Mishra1 Ancient yogic texts speak of fourteen main nadis out of which
Ida, Pingala and Sushumna are most vital. Ida nadi is at the
1Research
Scholar, left half of the” sushumna “ and is otherwise known as the
lunar nadi of the body. Ida is supportive and cool in nature
Yoga,,Utkal University,Vani Vihar, and it reflects the female aspect of our personality. Our
mental activities are controlled by ida.Similarly at the right
Bhubaneswar,Odisha,India half of “sushumna”, there is “pingala nadi” which controls all
crucial somatic activities. Nadi sodhana is the yogic way to
create equilibrium of nadis .Hatha yoga practices focus on
bringing ida and pingala into equilibrium. The author has
made an attempt to describe the concept of nadis in this
article based on the explanations made in texts and
traditions.
KEYWORDS: Ida Nadi, Kundalini, Muladhara,
Pingala, Sahasrara, Sakti, Sushumna.

INTRODUCTION On the other hand, they consist of astral matters and

NADI MEANING visible only to persons having psychic vision.
The origin of word nadi is from Sanskrit root CHARACTERISTICS OF NADIS
“nad ’’ which means flow or channel .The prana or life IDA
force flows along the subtle channels known as nadi.  Left channel
According to tantras they are network of subtle  White color
channels through which the prana-the life force  Feminine nature
circulates.  Cool
Nadi concept is almost 3,000 years old in
 Represents moon and river Ganga.
Hindu philosophy. Ancient yogic texts describe that
the human body consists of seventy two thousand  Meaning –comfort
nadis. There are fourteen main nadis according to  Path-Follows the path from left testicle to left
Shiva Samhita out of which Ida, Pingala and nostril.
Sushumna are considered most vital. Sushumna is the  Other name-Chandra nadi,sasi
central passage through which the awakened Kundalini  Location-left side of the spine
moves upward .Nadis do not mean nerves of  Introverted
physiological system. The location of nadis is not in  Lunar nadi
the physical body having physiological counterparts.

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PINGALA Sushumna with mouth. The Shakti is , the static

 Right channel unmanifested Kundalini which is symbolized by a
 Tawny (brown) or golden color serpent in sleeping mode coiled into three and half
 Masculine nature circles.
NADIS IN ANCIENT TEXTS
 Hot
In many Upanishads, like Chandogya and
 Represents the river Yamuna Prasna Upanisad.we get discussion regarding the
 Meaning- tawny concept of nadis .The susumna nadi which has been
 Path- Originating in Muladhara, Pingala referred to in Kathopanishad, is a crucial notion in
ends up in the right nostril. Hatha Yoga.
 Other name-Surya nadi,mihira Upanishad tells that in the heart dwells verily
 Location-Right side of the spine the Jivātma..
 Extroverted According to the yoga theory, prana (life
Solar nadi force energies) is carried by nadis. Blood, Air, water,
SUSHUMNA nutrients and other body fluids are transported by the
o Central channel nadis in the physical body. The other name of he
o Meaning-very gracious or kind physical body is Shula sarira (gross body).
o Path-along the spinal cord in the The nadis are similar to the
middle through seven chakras or veins, arteries, bronchioles, capillaries, lymph
psychic centers. canals, nerves and so on. .
o Represents river Saraswati. The nadis carry the intellectual, vital, seminal,
o The lower face of Sushumna is cosmic and mental energies in the subtle or causal
blocked until the arousal of body. Regarding the number of nadis in the human
Kundalini happens. It has its body there are different views in yogic texts.
interpenetration into cerebrospinal According to Hatha Yogic texts, there are 72,000
axis. nadis, each of which branches off into 72,000 nadis.
o As described in Swara yoga, Ancient text Shiva Samhita speaks of 350,000 nadis
Sushumna has the characteristics of originating from the navel center.
opening of both nostrils and free NADI IN SWARA YOGA
passage of air. It interconnects the Swara yoga is a science which deals in great
root chakra to the crown chakra. detail with the changing flows of the nadis. As per
o One can make the mind quiet by Shiva Swarodaya there exist ten important nadis
following connecting to the 'doorways' leading in and out of the
Yama, Niyama, Asana and Pranayama as body.
suggested in Patanjali Yoga Sutra. As a Chakras are like sub stations situated along
result .the stage of pratyahara or the spinal column.
withdrawal begins and the person in this Of these ten the most important nadis ida,
state never experience dispersion of pingala and sushumna like the high voltage wires
mind. The movements in sushumna are which conduct the energy to the chakras.
exhibited in the subtle body now. There are seven lesser nadis known as
OTHER NADIS gandhari, hastihihva, pooscha, yasaswini, alambusha,
Vajra, Chitrini and Brahma nadi are the kuhu, sankhini.
three subtle channels within the NADIS AND THEIR RELATED ORGAN
Sushumna nadi. Movement of Kundalini GANDHARI-LEFT EYE
occurs from just below Muladhara chakra HASTIJIHVA-RIGHT EYE
to Sahasrara chakra at the crown of the POOSHA-RIGHT EAR
head through these nadis. YASHASWINI=LEFT EAR
KANDA ALAMNUSHA-MOUTH
The kanda is otherwise known as “Yukta KUHU-REPRODUCTIVE ORGAN
Triveni “and is located in Muladhara chakra .Yukta SANKHINI-RECTUM
means "combined", tri means "three “and veni Upanishads describe 14 to 19 nadis which are listed
means "streams".The three nadis have their junction at below.
this point..  Jihva
In mooladhra there exists Svayambhu linga at  Kurma
the base of the spine which forms the central axis.,  Payaswini
Shakti exists around the linga blocking the entrance to  Saraswati

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 EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) | ISSN (Online): 2455 -3662 | SJIF Impact Factor : 4.924
 Saumya
 Shura
 Varuni
 Vilambha
 Vishvodar.
However in Swara yoga no description regarding the
nature or function of above nadis is available.Since
three nadis ida,pingala and sushumna govern the
whole system of the nadis and body
processes,concentration on only these three nadis is
essential.
POSITIVE AND NEGATIVE ASPECT OF
NADIS:
Ida and pingala belong to one prana or Shakti
but posses opposite aspects. Maha prana ranges
varying from gross to subtle or tangible to intangible in
macrocosmic level. In microcosmic level ,polarization
of prana into ida and pingala occurs in the body level.
The negative and positive aspects of nadis or prana are
symbolic and are purely descriptive terms and those
should not be confused with positive and negative ions
or with positive and negative mental states.
TRIUNE ENERGY SYSTEM
Depending on the flow of energy and
magnetic pull of positive and negative forces body is
divided into two divisions or zones. The two adjoining
sides meet in the central axis and thus the positive and
negative energies become equalized creating a neutral
energy field which runs straight up and down through
the centre. In yoga we call this important pathway as
sushumna nadi. Sushumna nadi also emerge from the
spinal base like ida and pingala, but it does not get
diverted to right or left and travels directly up through
the centre. Piercing the main chakras and plexuses
along the way it joins with Ida and pingala at ajna
chakra in the region of the medulla oblongata. This
sushumna may be assumed to correspond with
cerebrospinal nervous system (CNS which is the
career of impulses to the whole system). Running from
the base of the spine to the brain sushumna occupies
the same position. Sushumna is dormant at the present
stage of evolution of human being. It posseses
tremendous potential, but s some particular methods
are needed to arouse it. At the present rate of
evolution,, its activation will take thousands of years.
Therefore, yogis devised the means of awakening
sushumna through manipulation of swara.
NADI IN HATHA YOGA TEXTS
There are six techniques in hatha yoga for
purification of the body. They are known as
Shatkarmas. The yogi can bring balance of flow
between the prana in ida and pingala, (ha = sun, tha =
moon)., which is the main aim of hatha yoga. There
exist 350000 nadis as per Shiva Samhita out of which
14 are very important. Out of these 14 only three are
most vital.
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There is another classical text on chakras and
nadis known as Sat-Cakra-Nirupana (1520As per
this text ida, pingala and sushumna bear the names of
Sasi, Mihira and Susumna respectively. Sushumna nadi
has threefold Gunas and exists in the middle. Different
forms like that of Fire, Moon, Sun, and even water also
may be assumed by Sushumna
TANTRIC CONCEPT OF NADI
Tantra practitioners of ancient India
developed the methods of mappings of the different
ways of energy circulation within us. The most
important discovery of early tantric tradition was the
concept the nadis. The energetic irrigation system of
the body which keeps us alive is represented by the
nadis.
As per tantric concept Shiva the Shakt are the
twin forces which exist within each individual. We
can perceive them as brain and pranic body in form of
ida and pingala. It gives the idea of two minds l.e.
positive and the other negative. This strengthens the
idea of existence of a male and female side in
everyone of us.
Many Tantric texts speak of 72,000 nadis in
the body, through which the prana is channelized to
every cell. Out of these nadis some are wide and
rushing; while others are a mere trickle. A free and
smooth nadi system reflects a healthy body of the
individual. On the other hand, when the nadi system is
weak or congested, the person suffers with poor
physical as well as mental health. The pranic flow of
energy in our bodies is strengthened by Hatha yoga
practices. One cannot see nadis by microscope as they
are subtle body parts like the chakras (psycho energetic
power centers)and prana.. In traditional yoga system
subtle body is assumed to be real which is not accepted
in modern medical science which relates them to the
realm of the merely metaphorical. In current yoga
culture much emphasis is given on gross physical
anatomy and this perception will only be
counterbalanced by the proper understanding and
working with nadi theory and function. Three nadis
carry much importance and interest in the part of yogis.
The sushumna nadi is the passage for movement of
kundalini Shakti (the latent serpent power) which is
capable to fuel the higher spiritual consciousness. The
sahasrara chakra(thousand petalled lotus)is at the
crown of the head which is the true abode of the
kundalini.Awakened kundalini ,rises up from its origin
at the muladhara chakra and moves towards sahasrara
passing through other chakras along the sushumna
nadi , the path to enlightenment.
The ida and pingala nadis appear like the
double helix of our DNA as they run spirally around
sushumna crossing each other at every chakra. One
can get a rough idea of ida, pingala and sushumna
relationship if he or she visualizes the caduceus, the
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 EPRA International Journal of Multidisciplinary Research (IJMR) | ISSN (Online): 2455 -3662 | SJIF Impact Factor : 4.924
symbol of modern medicine. Ajna (command) chakra,
midway between the eyebrows. Is the meeting point of
all the three nadis together. Ida nadi whose other name
is lunar nadi runs at the left side of sushumna By
nature it is nurturing and cool by nature. All our mental
processes are controlled by ida .This nadi also reflects
the female aspects of our personality. The while colour
of ida represents its subtle vibrational quality .Pingala
is otherwise known as solar nadi at the right of
sushumna. Its nature is stimulating and warm and all
vital somatic processes are controlled by it.Pingala
reflects the male spects of our personality. The pingala
nadi has typical vibrational quality which gets
represented by red colour.We can equate the
interaction between ida and pingala with the activities
of right and left brain hemisphere, the internal dance
between intuition and rationality, consciousness and
vital power, Irrespective of our knowledge, one of
these nadis always found dominating in our day to
day activities. Though the predominance of one nadi
alternates throughout the day, still one nadi tends to be
ascendant more often and for longer durations than the
other. The person may be identified as pingala or ida-
like personality depending on the predominanance of
the nadi in behavior and personality. Below is a
summary of ida and pingala type of individuals’
characteristics:
IDA LIKE INDIVIDUALS
 The individuals may have lunar or nurturing
qualities.
 .Necessary urge to sustain a strong yoga
practice may be found lacking in them.
 They are full of potential.
 Suggestion: They should develop their
pingala side otherwise their potential will
never get manifested in either worldly affairs
or spiritual development.
PINGALA LIKE INDIVIDUALS
 Endowed with solar qualities.
 They are type A personalities having lots of
creativity and abundant vitality in most of the
cases.
 Suggestion: They should concentrate on
developing their pingala side.
We will not find nadis if we cut and look into the body.
But by developing awareness one becomes able to
notice that energy movement is not at random. It is the
energy or prana which is set into motion. The real life
really is initiated only at the time of entry of energies
into Sushumna..Shiva and Shakti are the
personification of the basic duality in the existence and
this duality is represented by Ida and Pingala represent
the basic duality in the existence which we personify
as Shiva and Shakti. It can be called as logical or
intuitive aspect of us or masculine and feminine nature
of individual.. Based on this principle, life is created.
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At the beginning stage, everything is primordial having
no existence of duality. Once creation takes place,
duality arises and without these two dualities, existence
of life in present form would not have been possible.
NADI SODHANA: YOGIC WAY TO
CREATE EQUILIBRIUM OF NADIS
Hatha yoga practices focus on bringing ida
and pingala into equilibrium The term hatha signifies
this equilibrium or balance. Hatha means "forceful" in
Sanskrit, in other sense it is made of two parts
ha and tha, two esoteric bija (seed) mantras. Ha and
Tha stand for the solar qualities of pingala and the
lunar qualities of ida respectively. Balance of solar and
lunar energies or equilibrium of sun and moon, or
pingala and ida, hastens the process of awakening and
arousal of kundalini,. When either ida or pingala is
dominating, sushumna remains blocked and the
kundalini is dormant..The balancing of ida and pingala
can be effected through nadi sodhana. Nadi sodhana
is same as alternate-nostril breathing practice. Because
of the direct link ida nadi with the left nostril, and the
pingala nadi with the right nostril, nadi sodhana brings
effective result in our physical and mental health. One
has to perform few rounds of this basic pranayama
practice at the end of an asana session. The imbalances
caused during the practice are removed and
equilibrium between the two nadis is established.
BY PRACTICE OF ASANA
In addition to Nadi Shodhana practice, asana
also can be experimentally performed as a method of
balancing ida and pingala. At the outset, one has to sit
and observe the breath to observe which nostril (hence,
which nadi) is dominating. In case of dominance of the
left nostril, it can be inferred that ida is in charge and
one has to concentrate on invigorating saunas like
backbends, standing poses, inversions, and twists to
engage the pingala nadi. If the right nostril dominates
in breathing, one should perform the seated poses and
forward bends so that the cooling, calming energy will
be available for the benefit of the practitioner. By
pausing between poses, the nadi which is dominant in
the breathing can be ascertained by developing
awareness of ida and pingala in a session.. The
practitioner’s mind-states as well; their correlation with
the nadi, which is ascendant. can be well noticed. If a
person is agitated and active he/she is pingala-like,
and if one is calm and receptive, he/she is ida-like
personality. Which poses activate one nadi or other and
which nadis are responsible for creating physical and
emotional equilibrium can be ascertained. Gradually it
will help in developing our awareness,
TECHNIQUE OF KUNDALINI YOGA
In Kundalini yoga practice the techniques
involves to use the vital air Prana and to guide its
circulatory movement through Ida and Pingala down to
the base of the spine into the space where Kundalini
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lies coiled .The meeting of the three principal nadis in "liberated").

Ajna chakra is termed as Mukta Triveni (Mukta:

QUALITY IDA PINGALA

Guna Tamasic Rajasic

Breath Left nostril Right nostril

Temperature Cold Hot

Sex Female Male

Quality Mental Physical

Metal Silver Gold

Colour Blue Red

Energy Negative Positive

Nerves Parasympathetic Sympathetic

River Yamuna Ganges

Planet Moon Sun

The most important nadi, sushumna, begins to flow
only when the purification and balance of nadis occur
along with the control of mind. To be successful in
meditation, flow of sushumna is essential. Flow of
pingala makes the body restless, and the flow of ida
flows makes the mind tend to think too much. Arousal
and ascent al of kundalini through the chakras follows
the flow of Sushumna in human physiology.
CONCEPT OF NADI IN OTHER
TRADITIONS AND
INTERPRETATIONS
CHINESE
Traditional Chinese Medicine system believes in
an energy concept called qi. Qi is in motion through
meridians like nadis.
TIBETAN
Through the influence of Tantric Buddhism,
Tibetan medicine system borrows many concepts from
Yoga. .In the Hevajra Tantra and Caryāgiti, the
concept of chakras were introduced about 8 th century
CE in Buddhist texts as per opinion of
White.. Cakka, padma (lotus) or pitha (mound) are the
synonyms of Chakra..
There are description of only four chakras in
these medieval Buddhist texts, while more number of
chakras are dealt in later texts like
the Kubjikāmata and Kaulajñānanirnaya .
In contrast to White, Feuerstein is of the view
that early Hindu Upanishads mention cakra in the
sense of "psycho spiritual vortices", along with other
terms like : pranaor vayu (life energy) ,nadi etc..
Galvin Flood, views that chakra and kundalini-style
yoga theories are not presented in ancient texts, though
early Vedic literatures refer these words in many
contexts. It is found that in the medieval era Hindu and
Buddhist texts used the word chakra in the sense of
four or more vital energies.
CONCLUSION
The main aim of yoga is purification of mind
and attainment of a blissful state. However to achieve
this certain practices like shatkarma or body cleansing
processes have to be done. Then again one has to
balance the breath in both the nostrils. Establishing
equilibrium in nadis (ida and pingala) brings control
over mind control easily. In traditional yoga texts and
texts of Swarayoga, nadis and the flow of breath in
them have been explained. It is the prime aim of yogi
to awaken the dormant kundalini energy at the base of
the root chakra and channelize it through sushumna
channel.Ascending upward through various chakras
,kundalini reaches at sahasrara,giving the experience of
higher consciousness and realization.Nadis are very
important so far as kundalini yoga is concerned.
REFERENCE
1. Nadi –Wikipedia
2. Asana, Pranayama,Mudra & Bandha,Swami Satyananda
Saraswati,Bihar School of Yoga,Munger,2002

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3. Hatha Yoga Pradipika,Commentary by Swami

Muktibodhananda and Swami Satyananda
Saraswati,Bihar School of Yoga,Munger,India,1905
4. Gheranda Samhita.S.C.Vasu, Satguru Publication,
Delhi,1979
5. Swara Chintamani (Divination By
Breath),S.Kanon,Sagar Publications,Delhi,1991
6. Light on Yoga, B.K.S.Iyengar, Schoken Books, United
States, 1979.
7. Hatha Yoga Pradipika,Commentary by Swami
Muktibodhananda and Swami Satyananda
Saraswati,Bihar School of Yoga,Munger,India,1905.
8. www.ishafoundation.org

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